“…feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.” ― Pema Chödrön

When we start to come awake, we begin to get a premonition of when these wonderful (while at the time, dreadful) moments are on the horizon. This is when it is really important to be in the moment, to be present. When we are ready, we get these opportunities to look at our sh*t. We can choose to go back to sleep, or create a distraction, or do whatever our particular method of avoiding pain is, and skip the teaching completely. Don’t worry, the message will keep coming until we finally open the door and let it in.

Remember this poem?

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

~ Rumi ~

Ah, we’re thinking … this is starting to make more sense. When my higher self decides I’ve got the skills to take the next step, the teacher — in whatever form — appears. If I choose to take a pass, I’ll just keep getting the same message over and over again until I figure it out. What an amazing system we’ve designed! Ultimately, we are here to learn to love, absolutely unconditionally. When we can learn to love just one being in that manner, then our hearts open in unconditional love for all beings.

If you’ve ever been the (as we like to say in Boulder) ‘guardian’ of an animal, a dog or maybe a cat (though I’m not so sure about cats …) then you have experienced unconditional love. Our animal friends love us no matter how dishonorably we may treat them. They teach us about unconditional love; they totally get it. If we could just follow their lead (sans that whole cleaning ourselves with our tongues thing) we’d be home free. But, sadly, we are humans, filled with flaws. Eventually we’ll catch up; we just need to get a few quirks out of the way first.

Nobody said the journey was easy, but I give a money back guarantee: the state of bliss is worth every single hardship we endure. I promise.

Here is a great video. If you think you knew Jim Carrey, the comedian/actor, wait until you see Jim Carrey on the spiritual path. Awesome.

Yours in living happily ever after (with my husband, three dogs and the best bunch of family and friends a person could ever want!) Chris